Too good to check: Oprah not supporting Obama publicly in 2012?

posted at 7:44 pm on April 7, 2011 by Allahpundit

Remember this? “When I saw that first episode, I went, ‘Whoa, she is charming and very likable.’”

Dude, I think she’s gone Palinista.

Now as the 2012 election process has officially begun, sources tell me this time around Oprah’s support will be much more private.

“For 2012, much has changed for Oprah. She now has own cable channel called OWN that has been struggling to find an audience — she isn’t going to do anything to alienate them,” a TV insider tells me. “Unlike in 2008, when a drop in ratings didn’t matter as much for the queen of TV, Oprah is now fighting every day to get people to tune into OWN.”…

As my source puts it, “Helping a friend keep the most important job in the world is great, but making sure her OWN network thrives is now her priority.”

There was indeed a sharp dip in Oprah’s favorable ratings in 2008 after she became Obama’s biggest celebrity booster. (It was she, in fact, who ended up dubbing The One “The One.”) But I’ve always thought that backlash was driven mostly by Hillary fans who were angry to see Oprah end up on the wrong side of the would-be first woman president. Don’t forget, her Obama endorsement came early on, in May 2007, just three months after he launched his campaign. She helped put him on the map against the Clinton machine when he was trailing by 40 points. I think conservative fans at the time probably gave her a pass because by the time the general election rolled around, the fact of her status as an O-bot had already long since been digested. But in 2012, with the entire right roiling to beat Obama and Oprah trying to grow a fledgling vanity channel? A vocal re-endorsement really could be dicey for her business. Besides, what good would it do for him to have her at rallies again this time? Democrats will win the women vote with or without her, and independents won’t care what she thinks — at best. Exit quotation: “A December [2007] ABC/Washington Post poll of Democrats found 8% were persuaded by her Obama endorsement, 82% said it wouldn’t matter either way and 10% said her recommendation had turned them off Obama.”

Blowback

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I’m not going to endorse BarryO either. Do I get any headline press time?

Robert17 on April 7, 2011 at 7:49 PM

Obama is going to be starring in his own reality show on the PWN channel.

ted c on April 7, 2011 at 7:50 PM

Too late Doprah.

Knucklehead on April 7, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Priorities.

A much overused term.

coldwarrior on April 7, 2011 at 7:52 PM

She now has own cable channel called OWN that has been struggling to find an audience — she isn’t going to do anything to alienate them….

…..except give Rosie O’Donnell a new daily talk show on it.

Marcus on April 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM

Conservative fans were upset when she refused to have Palin on her show until after the election and that created a renewed storm.

sharrukin on April 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM

She helped put him on the map against the Clinton machine when he was trailing by 40 points.

was that the 57 state map?

ted c on April 7, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Then I’d like to ask Oprah just who should I vote for.

Cicero43 on April 7, 2011 at 7:55 PM

She and Michelle are on the outs, I read it in the grocery check-out line.

RedRedRice on April 7, 2011 at 7:57 PM

I’ve never heard of the OWN network…and now that I have, it still won’t help her.

AUINSC on April 7, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Dope-Rah vs. Dope-Bama.

Reality T.V at it’s finest.

GrannyDee on April 7, 2011 at 8:00 PM

We’re out. Chicago is out. It is out. Why, we had the best of the best personalities and they slammed the door.

I have never watched her show. I realize she has enormous amounts of cash and creates quite a stir when she says stuff.She looses weight, gains weight. Has a boyfriend, is a lesbo.

betsyz on April 7, 2011 at 8:01 PM

Huh! I wouldn’t have thought the content of her OWN program would be much different than her original show. So Oprah OWN show cannot stand on its own legs.

I wonder how Beck will fair in his venture. Rumors still persist on sponsorship and viewers bailing. Yet, as Beck tells it, it was his own decision.

Perhaps OWN doesn’t want to own the O in bama?

Kini on April 7, 2011 at 8:03 PM

So Oprah is not endorcing Obama THIS TIME. Who is it then, Huckleberrypie or the crying Boehner?

betsyz on April 7, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Too late Doprah.

Knucklehead on April 7, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Yes ma’am

darwin-t on April 7, 2011 at 8:08 PM

Neutral means No, according the the Liberal Unions.

When you think about it, in her case, it is a no confidence vote.

WoosterOh on April 7, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Her new network is a fraccking failure. She does not seem to see trends… Soap Operas have done their day. Off altogether.She jumps on the late ship. She is not smart. Lucky, it will get you quaddzzillions People applaud.

betsyz on April 7, 2011 at 8:14 PM

When your cash flow is weak, and your audience-ships sticks…

Thank obamanomicssssssss

When you notice your taxes are inflating faster….

that is obamanomicssssssssssss

When you see your veiwership go, and you wish you had said NO to Obamaaaaaaaa.

When you were the Queen of Day Time and you can’t keep an all time high… that’s obamaaaaaaaaa.

Oh I could go on. hehe

upinak on April 7, 2011 at 8:14 PM

I think Oprah could be very useful to the Obama administration, especially in promoting Obamacare.

And YOU get a waiver! And YOU get a waiver! And YOU get a waiver!

malclave on April 7, 2011 at 8:16 PM

pOWN3d!

The B0y K1ng has lost his H4rpo!

profitsbeard on April 7, 2011 at 8:17 PM

Obama just found out that Oprah’s bus is bigger than his.

coldwarrior on April 7, 2011 at 8:19 PM

We do the tattoos. We do the hair plugs. We do boob jobs and many many ear-piercings. Do you yokels have any idea how you must stand strait still during these procedures. Of course not.

betsyz on April 7, 2011 at 8:23 PM

Obama just found out that Oprah’s bus is bigger than his.

coldwarrior on April 7, 2011 at 8:19 PM

So true! And in more ways than one.

RedRedRice on April 7, 2011 at 8:23 PM

and straight, too.

betsyz on April 7, 2011 at 8:26 PM

What does it say about someone when they have to keep quiet about who their friends are?

deewhybee on April 7, 2011 at 8:36 PM

She likes her private jet, and wants to keep her private jet. With Obama, that may not happen. ;)

capejasmine on April 7, 2011 at 8:38 PM

Now as the 2012 election process has officially begun, sources tell me this time around Oprah’s support will be much more private.

So….her support will be much more private. And, there’s a shutdown looming, like the one in 1995……
Does Doprah own a navy blue dress?
*kidding, well, sort of…there have always been rumors*

HornetSting on April 7, 2011 at 9:06 PM

You know, this woman has EVERY resource on earth at her disposal and she still can’t get her weight or her politicians right. V sad.

anniekc on April 7, 2011 at 9:28 PM

She has learned that the Obama stink is hard to wash off. She lost a lot of longtime devotees because of her support for Obummer. Her other big mistake was pushing some crazy New Age guru. Her looney tunes views have come back to haunt her.

flyfisher on April 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

anniekc on April 7, 2011 at 9:28 PM

Sounds like a job for…Doctor Phil!!! :-)

coldwarrior on April 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

You know, this woman has EVERY resource on earth at her disposal and she still can’t get her weight or her politicians right. V sad.

anniekc on April 7, 2011 at 9:28 PM

well said – I was never a big Oprah fan, but when she backed Obambi, she lost me forever.

whatzit2u on April 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

I think she’s pissed at Michelle. Come on, no more Bar-B-Q and chicken and waffles. You expect Oprah to start eating tofu and salads.

Hummer53 on April 7, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Stuff and nonsense. Who’s that hottie Helen Mirren voting for, I’d like to know? And Scarlett Johannsen can just STFU and make me a sammwch.

Fortunata on April 7, 2011 at 9:44 PM

She has learned that the Obama stink is hard to wash off.

flyfisher on April 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

Obama is the gift that keeps on giving rash that keeps on itching, the athlete’s foot fungus that keeps on coming back. Nothing like not getting anything done, at all, ever, to piss of the people who have been counting on you.

smellthecoffee on April 7, 2011 at 9:51 PM

“that backlash was driven mostly by Hillary fans who were angry to see Oprah end up on the wrong side of the would-be first woman president. “

Between his “mom jeans”, his pitching prowess, and his choice of bicycle to ride on Nantucket, we might have elected our first “girl” president. I wouldn’t insult women by calling him the first “woman” president, though. Too bad he was our first black president, too. There’s better “timber” out there amongst African-Americans.

tpitman on April 7, 2011 at 10:26 PM

She was loved by everybody.
She decided to get into politics.
She got slammed and she’s no dummy. She won’t be doing that again.

bridgetown on April 7, 2011 at 10:35 PM

Hummer53 on April 7, 2011 at 9:42 PM

LOL!

bridgetown on April 7, 2011 at 10:40 PM

She has learned that the Obama stink is hard to wash off. She lost a lot of longtime devotees because of her support for Obummer. Her other big mistake was pushing some crazy New Age guru. Her looney tunes views have come back to haunt her.

flyfisher on April 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

Yep Poopra has lost her groove.

wi farmgirl on April 7, 2011 at 10:48 PM

CUDA

Metro on April 7, 2011 at 11:56 PM

Obama is the gift that keeps on giving rash that keeps on itching, the athlete’s foot fungus jock itch that keeps on coming back. Nothing like not getting anything done, at all, ever, to piss of the people who have been counting on you.

smellthecoffee on April 7, 2011 at 9:51 PM

FIFY

mizflame98 on April 8, 2011 at 12:43 AM

From the looks of Oprah, she may be getting a visit from Dick Gregory soon.

Dr. Carlo Lombardi on April 8, 2011 at 1:20 AM

Oprah upset 50% of her audience with her political views.
Backing Obama cost her millions.

albill on April 8, 2011 at 7:04 AM

Too little… too late.

Oprah had already lost relevance when she lost touch with the average American woman, (ie. those who can’t afford five-hundred dollar handbags). But I never will understand why people who make their living based on their personal likability would deliberately alienate half their customer base by engaging in politics. It doesn’t make business sense.

Murf76 on April 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM

But I never will understand why people who make their living based on their personal likability would deliberately alienate half their customer base by engaging in politics. It doesn’t make business sense.

The answer lies in the following fact: Notice how, when they do, they always do it to the left. it’s because the left generally, like the Wisconsin unions particularly, consider neutrality ‘being against them’. Unless you pander to them, you lose them.

Dirty Creature on April 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM

She now has own cable channel called OWN that has been struggling to find an audience — she isn’t going to do anything to alienate them,” a TV insider tells me.

So, she is flip flopping, and/or putting ratings (money) ahead of principles.

She has an awful lot in common with Donald Trump.

UltimateBob on April 8, 2011 at 12:07 PM

She will… Later, but still… she will do the deed in the end. “Do not doubt me on this”.
-

RalphyBoy on April 8, 2011 at 5:52 PM